A historic environmental scheme to restore an ancient landmark has won an award.

The honour is for an imaginative scheme to replace the six ancient standing stones just outside Guisborough, on the A171 road to Whitby, known locally as the Six Stoupes.

For several hundred years, the stones had stood on the moor road, warning of boggy ground.

Now, thanks to the inspiration of Guisborough and Great Ayton Rotary Club, the project has won the North-east region's top award for best environmental project by a Rotary Club.

Originally the six-feet high stones were erected to mark a safe passage across a notoriously wet stretch of moorland, in the days of horses, wagons and coaches and before paved and metalled roads.

Local Rotary spokesman Peter Sotheran said: "In recent years, they have been damaged by modern traffic and displaced by highway maintenance work."

Redcar and Cleveland Council came to the Rotary Club with a request for help.

It asked the club to raise the public profile of the project and to try to locate a source of stones to use as replacements.

In return, the council undertook the engineering work.

Mr Sotheran said: "Farmers and landowners responded to an appeal through the local press and, within weeks, they provided a set of suitable stones which were then erected at the traditional location."

Past district governor Syd Howard, of Newton Aycliffe, presented the annual award at the Rotary Clubs' regional conference at Leeds Town Hall.

In his citation, Mr Howard said: "This was a model Rotary project. It involved the local community from the outset and has restored a piece of local heritage which will remind local people of the work of Rotary International for many years to come."

Mark Hards, president of the Rotary Club of Guisborough and Great Ayton, said: "The network of 1,600 Rotary Clubs throughout Great Britain form the country's largest service organisation. We're delighted to have been of service right on our own doorstep."